Oil well bailer and cleaner



July 18, 1939. P. cAvlNs OIL WELL BAILER AND CLEANER Filed June 23, 1937 INI MH 'Dazu/ @auch/JL,

P. CAVINS OIL WELL BAILER AND CLEANER Filed Jun'e 23, 1937 July 18, 1939.

@M wm )n4/wwwa( UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OIL WELL BAILER AND CLEANER Paul Cavins, Long Beach, Calif.

Application June 23, 1937, Serial No. 150,003

12 Claims. (Cl. 16S-19) The present invention relates to oil well bailers opened when the bailer is arrested in its descent and cleaners of a type adapted to be lowered into in the well. Disposed below the suction chama Well to take charge of liquid and solid matter ber of this bailer is a one-way flapper valve to therefrom, and to remove the charge from the retain the charge drawn into the device by sucwell. The invention includes methods of cleantion, and below this valve is a shoe including a ing as well as apparatus therefor. bottom inlet, through which the charge is drawn A principal object of the invention is to prowhen the suction chamber valve is opened. Arvide a cleaner of the above type which will ranged above the suction chamber of this bailer, clean the perforations in lperforated well pipe at is a jar unit through which the tool is suspended the bottom of the well, or at any desired point on the lowering line, and which unit may be used 10 above the same. The cleaner disclosed herein in jarring the bailer loose if it becomes stuck may be operated successively at various depths in the hole. in the well to clean the openings throughout While the bailer of the above mentioned patthe entire perforated area of the well pipe. ent is Well adapted for the cleaning of perfora- A principal object of the invention is to protions in well pipe at any selected depth in the 15 vide such a cleaner having a closed, substantially well, its operation is most effective in the withair-tight suction chamber and a Valve controlling drawing of heavy charges of mud, fish and the the inlet to the same, with means for positively like from the bottom of the Well, although imopening the valve to draw a charge from the provements in the nature of adjustable side inlet well by movement of the cleaner in the well. ports into the shoe of this bailer, as shown in 20 A further object of the invention is to provide my Patent No. 2,088,151, have adapted this bailer a cleaner of the above type equipped with a for eflicient cleaning operations including pervalve which may be operated to effect the drawfOratiOn Washing at DOStiOnS above the bOttOm ing of a charge into the tool from the well, with of the Well.

automatically operable means for retaining the The present invention may be considered as 25 valve displaced from its seat during the time that an improvement on the bailer of the above menthe cleaner is being removed from the well, the tioned patent to Omar A. Cavins, by adding valve operating means being constructed and thereto what is hereinafter termed an up-trip arranged for reapplication of the. valve to its unit and a pack-olf shoe unit, these attachseat to seal the suction chamber, thus eliminating ments serving to equip the bailer for more effec- 30 the necessity for entirely replacing the valve, as tive Operation in COIlIleCtOn With DGIOIMOII has been done in the prior art when frangible washing.

valve closures and the like have been used. The up-trip unit comprises a plurality of wall A further object of the invention is to provide engaging elements in the nature of bowed springs a cleaner which may be conveniently assembled which retain the main valve stem of the valve by adding units of equipment to bailers of a well which controls flow of fluid to the suction chamknown type of the prior art. ber against upward movement when the bailer Another object of the invention is to provide is lowered to cleaning position and then elevated,

a cleaner adapted to clear the perforations in a thereby positively moving the valve from its seat well pipe in selected confined areas. to cause a rush of fluid into the suction cham- 40 The cleaner of the present invention may be ber to take a charge from the well. operated to wash the perforations in the well 'I'he pack-olf shoe unit is a replacement of pipe either by an outward or an inward rush the regular shoe of the bailer of the above menof fluid through said perforations. tioned patent to Omar A. Cavins, and includes a The invention may be considered as an impair of spaced packers with inlet ports between 45 provement of the bailer disclosed in the Reissue the same, which packers conne the suction re- Patent No. 19,679 of Omar A. Cavins, August 27, sulting from the opening of the main valve so 1935, the improvement residing in the addition that the perforation cleaning may be limited to 4 of standard units of equipment to the above menand made more intense in a selected area of the tioned bailer in order to better adapt it for the wall of the perforated well pipe. The pack-01T 50 cleaning of perforations in well pipe, at any deshoe unit also includes a fluid by-pass traversing sired depth in the well. 'I'he aforementioned the spaced packers to facilitate lowering of the patent comprises a closed substantially air-tight tool into the Well. suction chamber with a valve closing the lower The cleaner generaly equipped as described u end of the same, which valve is automatically above is lowered into the Well until the spaced packers of the pack-off shoe are at the desired depth for perforation cleaning, and the cleaner is then moved upwardly under influence of its suspension line, and the engagement of the wall drag elements of the up-trip unit positively forces the suction chamber valve from its seat, the suction resulting from the taking of a charge following the opening of the valve serving to clean the perforations in the well pipe between the packers of the pack-off shoe assembly. After the4 charge has been taken, the tool is elevated from? the well, the charge being retained by the wellknown flapper valve mentioned above, and at the surface of the well the charge may be removed as hereinafter described. When one area of the perforations has thus been cleaned, the main valve may be manually re-set to its seat, after which the tool may be again lowered into the Well to withdraw a succeeding charge, cleaning another area of perforations in the well pipe either above or below the perforations previously cleaned.

In the drawings, which are illustrative of a preferred form of the invention, which drawings are in no sense restrictive- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a well, showing one form of the cleaner in position therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the upper portion or jar unit of the cleaner, showing the same in position in the well.

Figure 3 is` a similar View of the up-trip unit which connects with the lower end of the jar unit shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a similar Aview of the suction chamber of the cleaner, which connects with the lower end of the portion of the tool shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 isa similar view of the portion of the cleaner including the charge retaining flapper valve, and discharge port above the same, which connects'with the lower end of that portion of the tool shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the lower end of the cleaner including the pack-off shoe unit, which is connected with the lower end of that part of the tool shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3, but

showing the arrangement of the parts when the` main valve has been forced from its seat.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the main valve off of its seat.

Figure 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View of the tool, taken along the line 9 9 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a similar horizontal sectional View of the tool taken along the line I0-I0 of Fig` ure 6.

Figure 11 is a similar horizontal sectional view of the tool taken along the line I I-II of Figure 8.

Referring to Figure 1, the tool comprises a jar unit A, an up-trip unit B, a suction chamber and valve assembly C and a pack-off shoe unit D. In the above mentioned patent to Omar A.

Cavins, a tool is shown which was primarily used f for bailing, consisting of only gtheparts A and C' with a special shoe having a central bottom inlet attached tor the lower end of the assembly C in place of the pack-off unit D. In practice, thef parts of the up-trip and the pack-off shoe units B and D are so standardized that they may be` fitted into the bailer of the type shown in the said Omar A. Gavins patent by disconnecting the jar unit A and suction chamber unit C of the tool of that patent, inserting therebetween the up-trip unit B. of the present cleaner, and by replacing the shoe of the Omar A. Cavins bailer with the pack-off shoe unit D of the present cleaner in the manner shown in Figure 1.

The jar unit, as shown in Figure 2, comprises an upper casing section I0 which is threaded to a connecting collar I2, said collar being threaded and welded as shown to the upper end of a lower section of casing I4. The collar I2 has a central opening I6 therethrough in order to slidably receive a rod I8, said rod havingxed thereto a head 20 which is adapted to engage the lower face of the collar I2 as an anvil, in order to jar the tool loose if it becomes stuck in the well.

The upper end of the rod I8 is threaded into a solid connector 22 which is in turn secured to a suspending eye member 24 by means of a tool joint 26', the suspending eye being adapted to receive the well known sand line for lowering the tool into the well. The lower end of the casing section I4 is threaded to the upper end of a latching block housing 26 which may house if desired a latching block 28 for use only when the tool is assembled in the manner of Aa bailer shown in the above mentioned Omar A. Gavins patent, although this latching block maybe omitted when the tool is assembled as a cleaner, if desired.

Referring tol Figure 3, the housing 26 is threaded at its lower end by means of a tool joint: to a connecting sub 30 which forms the top- 28 of the jar unit.

Disposed within the up-trip unit sleeve 32 and between the lower end of the sub 30 and their upper end of the latching block 36 is a valve'y operating rod 38, and slidably mounted on saidrod near its upper end is a spring retaining collar 40. The rod 38 is supported within the sleeve 32- by a collar 4I secured within said sleeve. Secured to the collar 40 at their upper ends in any suitable fashion are wall engaging elements 42. These elements may be of any desired type, and

they extend outwardly beyond the up-trip unit` Thevalve operating rod 38 has secured thereto a fixed' sleeve through the slots 44 in said sleeve.

upper collar 46 which limits the downward movement of the spring retaining collar 4D in a manner hereinafter described, and a spring expandr ing knob 48 at a point spaced below the collar- 46. The wall engaging elements 42 arein the form of bowed spring members as shown, andI they extend outwardly from their retaining collar 40 and engage the wall of the well casing inter-i mediate their ends, and at their lower ends said springs are bent inwardly to lie against the rod 38 as shown at 50. The extreme lower ends 52 of the springs 42 may be bent outwardly for effective engagement with the spring expanding knob The latching block 36 normally rests within the-4 opening in its housing sub 34 supported onv the upper face of the main valve stem 54. This block is' equipped with a stop bolt 56 extending into a' suitable slot 51 in the wall of the housing 34 to limit lthe downward movement of said block, and is also equipped with a spring-pressed latch 58 normally housed within a cavity 60 in the block,l

but adapted to be forced outwardly by its spring into a slot 62 in the wall of the housing 34, when the block is moved downwardly as hereinafter described, in order to lock the valve stem 54 in its lower position with the main valve off of its seat.

When the cleaner is being lowered into the well, the up-trip unit is in the condition shown in Figure 3, and the springs 42 will move along in frictional engagement with the wall of the well casing, the spring retaining collar being at the upper end of the valve operating rod 38. When the desired area for cleaning of the well has been reached, the descent of the cleaner is stopped, and then it is lifted upwardly. During this upward movement, the wall engaging elements 42 will be held in relatively fixed position by their frictional engagement with the wall of the well casing, and the entire cleaner including the valve operating rod 38 will move upwardly with respect to the springs until the ends 52 of the springs engage the expanding knob 48. At this time, the increased frictional engagement of the springs with the well casing wall caused by the expansion of the springs effected by the collar 48, will be suiiicient to maintain the valve operating rod 38 against further upward movement. Continued upward movement of the cleaner will cause a downward force against the latching block 36, which will in turn be imparted to the upper end of the valve stem 54, and this force will be sufficient to move the main valve from its seat against the tension of its spring as hereinafter described. The movement necessary to completely withdraw the main valve from its seat will be sufficient to lower the latching block 36 and move the bolt 58 below the upper end of the slot 62, at which time said bolt will move outwardly under pressure of its spring to latch the block in its lower position as shown in Figure 7, thus retaining the main valve 01T of its seat. Further upward movement of the cleaner will cause the lower ends 52 of the springs 42 to ride over the expanding collar 48, as shown in Figure '7,

lthus decreasing the frictional engagement of the springs with the wall of the well casing, to permit the cleaner to be withdrawn from the well after a charge has been taken into the tool.

Referring to Figure 4, the lower end of the housing 34 is shown secured to the upper end of a housing 64 which defines the upper end of a closed, substantially air-tight suction chamber 65. This housing is provided with a bore 66 through which the valve stem 54 passes, and suitable packing 68 is positioned in the upper end of said bore surrounding the valve stem,which packing is maintained to seal the upper end of said chamber around the valve stem by means of a gland 18 threaded into the upper end of said bore. Below the packing, the valve stem has formed integral therewith a collar 12 provided to guide said stem in the bore. l

The lower end of the housing 64 is threaded to the upper end of a relatively long sleeve 14, which forms the wall of the suction chamber, and at its lower end, said sleeve is threaded to a main valve body 16 which in turn is secured by means of a tool joint to the sub 18, the latter being threaded at its lower end to the upper end of a sleeve 80. The sub 18 has a bore A82 therein, and at the upper end of said bore a Valve seat member 84 is threaded into a counterbore 86 in the lower end of the valve body 16.

The valve body 16 is formed with an upwardly and outwardly tapered bore 88, forming with bore 82 and valve seat 84 an inlet iiuid way between the lower chamber 98 and the suction chamber 65.

The closure for sealing the inlet to the suction chamber 65 is shown inthe form of a valve member 92, the same being threaded or secured in any suitable manner to the lower end of the valve stem 54, the valve member being fixed to an extension of the valve stem which passes through the valve seat, and thus the valve member comes upon its seat from below, so that pressure ofi the well fluid when the cleaner is being lowered into the well will tend to close the valve, or force it into more intimate engagement with its seat. A lock nut 93 may be provided to lock the valve member on the lower end of the rod 54.

Within the suction chamber sleeve 14, and threaded to the interior of the housing 64, is a spring housing sleeve 94, which sleeve has threaded within its lower end a collar 96. This collar serves as a bearing and guide for a sleeve 98 welded to the valve stem 54. The valve stem 54 is reduced in diameter below its collar 12.

Welded to the reduced portion of the valve stem is a iixed collar |88, said collar having a reduced lower portion forming a downwardly facing shoulder |8| and loosely mounted on the reduced portion of the collar is a second collar |83. Between the lower end of said collar |83 and the upper end of the collar 98 is a main spring |82 which tends to urge the main valve to its seatj.

Any suitable means may be provided to adjust the tensionof the spring |82, for instance, by rotation ojf the valve stem 54 to adjust the force by which the valve member engages its seat, particularly for decreasing the eiiect of the spring when the tool is changed from a bailer of the type shown in the Omar A. Cavins patent, to a cleaner as shown in the present invention.

The collar 96 is adapted for vertical movement in the sleeve 94 when rotated therein, having a hexagonal opening as shown in Fig. 11 which fits the hexagonal sleeve 98 on the valve stem. By turning the upper end of the valve stem. 54 with a wrench, when the tool units above said end are removed, sleeve 98 will impart turning movement to the collar 96, moving it toward or from the fixed collar |88, thus regulating the force of the spring |82. By removing lock nut 93 and valve member 92 from valve operating rod 54, said rod with its collars 98 and |88 may be removed from the barrel as a unit, after stuffing box nut 18 is removed, the collar 12 carrying packing 68 with it during removal.

Within the bore of the housing 64 and at the upper end of the suction chamber is a suitable relief valve |84, which is adapted to relieve excessive pressure from the suction chamber when the cleaner is being elevated from the well, which is well understood in the art.

Referring particularly to Figure 5, the lower end of the sleeve 88 is threaded to a connecting sleeve |86, having a lower inner sleeve extension |88 which extends down into an outer dis'- charge valve'sleeve ||2. Attached to the lower end of the sleeve extension |88 is a collar ||4 which formsza iiuid way controlled by the charge retaining lapper valve I6. The sleeve extension |88 is provided with a suitable outlet port ||8 similar to the port 330i Figure 1 of the above mentioned Omar A. Cavins patent, which port may be aligned with a cooperating outlet port |28 in the sleeve I2, the latter corresponding with the port 34 in Figure 1 of the above mentioned patent to Omar Cavins, when it is desired to discharge the bailer. The alignment of these ports may be effected at the surface of the well when the cleaner is withdrawn therefrom, in a manner well known in the art, by rotating the sleeve ||2 with respect to the inner sleeve |08, to discharge the cleaner by its own pressure.

Referring to Figure 6, the lower end of the sleeve ||2 is threaded to a connector I |9, which connector is substituted for the ordinary shoe of Y the bailer of the type shown in the above mentioned Omar A. Cavins patent, to convert that tool into a cleaner of the type of the present application, the connector I9 carrying the packoi shoe unit hereinafter described.

Fitted to the lower end of the connector ||9 is a sleeve |2| forming amandrel on which the packer elements are mounted'said mandrel having fixed therein adjacent its upper end a collar' |22. An upper packer |24 and its thimble |30 is slid over the mandrel |2| until-vit engages aA end of the mandrel, the sleeve |34 being fixed to the mandrel by'means loi the retaining bolt |38.

In order to provide for free flow of fluid upwardly through the too-l and past the packers, the lower packer retaining sleeve and the mandrel are provided with the aligned openings |40 below the lower packer, and the upper retaining' sleeve and mandrel are` provided with the aligned openings |42 above the upper packer, so that fluid may ow through the mandrel past the packers to permit lowering of the to-ol to the desired depth through the fluid in the well.

Secured witln'n the collar |22 of the mandrel is an intake tube |44, which is* closed at its lower end, the interior of this tube communicating with a passage through the connecting sub H9' which in turn connects with the suction chamber through the apper valve ||6 and the main Avalve 92. I'he tube |44 is secured in any suitable' manner at one side of the mandrel, and at a point Abetween the upper and lower packers, is providedi with a plurality of ports |48 (Fig. l0) which are in alignment with corresponding ports |50 in the The wall of the mandrel between the packers. interior of these aligned ports may be threaded for the reception of plugs |52, in order that any number of the ports may be closed to regulate the total area of intake and velocity of flow of fluid into the cleaner. any sort of slide valve or similar arrangement may be providedto regulate the total inlet area of flow into the cleaner through the above mentioned side ports.

It will be apparent that the packers |24 may be removed for repair or replacement with facility, as the lower packer |32 with its retaining sleeve |34 may be conveniently removed from the mandrel by removing the bottom end guide |36, and similarly, the upper packer |24 with its retaining sleeve |26 may be removed from the mandrel by disconnecting the upper top sub connection Furthermore, if it is desired to operate with only one packer, either one of the packers |24 or |32 may be omitted. Particularly, the cleaner may be operated without the use of the upper packer |24 in a manner hereinafter described.

In operation, the tool is lowered into the well In place of plug closures',

suspended from the eye member 24 with the weight of the cleaner carried by the engagement of the hammer 20 with the anvil |2 as shown in Figure 2. During the lowering of the tool through the well, the up-trip unit and suction chamber assembly including the main valve 92 are in the condition shown in Figures 3 and 4, with the spring collar 40 and the springs 42 in their upper position, and with the valve 92 held upon its seat by the pressure of the spring |02, the latching block 36 being retained within the bore of its housing 34, with the latching bolt in retracted position.

When the portion of the mandrel |2| between the packers is positioned at the desired level in the well for taking a charge, the lowering of the cleaner is stopped, and then it is moved upwardly. During this upward movement, thewall engaging springs 42 remain stationary by reason of their frictional engagement with the wall of the well, and the valve operating rod 38 moves upwardly through the spring retaining sleeve 40, until the lower ends 52 of the springs engage the expanding collar 48, at which time the friction of engagement of the springs with the wall of the well is'- increased by the expanding effect of the collar 48. This increased friction exerts a relatively downward force on the valve operating rod 38 during further elevation of the cleaner, which force is imparted to the latching block 36, which in turn presses downwardly on the valve stem 54 which also acts as a valve operating rod to move the valve from its seat against the tension of the spring |02. The valve is latched in open position by the action of the bolt 58.

The opening of the valve results in an instantaneo-us rush of fluid from the well in through intake ports |48, |50, up through the tube |44, past the apper valve ||6 and into the suction chamber past the main valve 92, this rush of uid being caused by the' opening of the suction chamber 65, which, by reason of being air tight, is at atmospheric pressure before the main valve is opened. The rush of fluid carries the liquid and other materials from the well into the cleaner past the charge retaining o-r flapper valve ||6.

Referring to Figure 6, it will be noted that the charge taking suction is conned to an area between the two packers, and thus the cleaning effect on the perforations in the well pipe will be more intense in this localized area. As will be apparent from Figure 6, uid is drawn inwardly through the perforations in the well pipe between-the packers, and due to the strength of the suction, well fluid is` drawn from within the interior of the pipe above the upper packer outwardly through the perforations in the pipe above said packer and down around the packer outside the perforated pipe, and inwardly through the perforations below the packer. Similarly some fluid ,may be drawn from within the perforated pipe outwardly through the perforations below the lower packer and inwardly through the perforations above the lower packer. This flow of fluid thoroughly cleanses and opens up the perforations If desired, the tool may be operated with the use of only a 'single packer. For instance, if it is desired in one operation to clean the well below a certain point, the lower packer may be omitted, and the suction will then be taken inwardly through the perforations below the upper packer.

In the same manner, if it is desired to clean the perforations only above a certain point in the well, the upper packer may be omitted, and

then only the perforations above the lower packer will be cleaned, by suction, or by outward flow of fluid therethrough.

In this, connection, when the upper packer is omitted, there may be a cleaning of the perforations by an outward flow of fluid under pressure therethrough. When such a tool is lowered into vthe well and stopped, the lower packer |32 forms in effect a false bottom, and when the valve leading to the suction chamber is opened by a subsequent upward movement of the tool, the rapid surge of fluid into the suction chamber substantially instantaneously removes a considerable volume of fluid from the well, and this causes a disturbance therein which results in a very rapid drop of the fluid above down into the well adjacent the area where the charge is taken. As the Well fluid rushes downwardly, the cleaner becomes completely filled, and this downward rush of fluid is then suddenly arrested, and fluid is forced outwardly through the perforations in the well pipe at the point where the charge was taken, thus cleaning the same by an outward flow of fluid. Of course, there may be a continuing resurging of the fluid back and forth until a state of equilibrium is reached, but the dominant effect of the sudden removal of fluid with resulting unstable condition within the well, is the outward force of the fluid through the perforations adjacent where the charge was taken.

The cleaner may also be operated to clean the perforations in the well pipe above the packer |24 by an outward flow of fluid under pressure through the perforations, by jamming the sleeve ||2 in such position with respect to the sleeve |08, that the port |20 is in alignment with the port H8. If it is desirable to operate the tool in this fashion, a plurality of pairs of ports |20 and ||8 may be provided, instead of a single pair. With this arrangement, the tool is lowered to the desired point in the well with the port or ports |20 aligned with the port or ports ||8, and when the tool is operated as hereinbefore described to effect an opening of the main valve 92, fluid is rapidly drawn into the tool through the ports |20 and H8 above the packer |24. This withdrawal of the fluid from the well causes a rapid drop in the fluid therein above the packer |24 and when the suction chamber of the cleaner becomes filled, this violent surging of fluid into the cleaner ceases, and a resulting reaction in the form of an outward flow of fluid through the perforations in the well pipe takes place. When the suction chamber 65 becomes filled, the path of least resistance for the surging fluid is outwardly through the perforations above the packer |24. Of course, there may be a resurging of fluid back and forth through the perforations in the well pipe until the fluid in the well reaches a state of equilibrium, but the dominant effect will be the outward flow of fluid through the perforations. It will be noted that when the cleaning is effected by the outward flow of fluid through the perforations, either when using the packer |24 or the packer |32 as the false bottom, there is no obstruction in the form of a seal between the outer wall of the cleaner and the inner wall of the well casing above this false bottom. 'Iherefore, the downward flow of well fluid, when the cleaner is operated, is substantially unobstructed, so that the outward surging effect will be had when the flow of fluid into the cleaner ceases. The members 42 do not provide any substantial obstruction to this downward flow of fluid.

The cleaner of this invention may be operated with only the combination of units A, B and C of Figure 1, and without the pack-off shoe unit D. When this is done, the lower end of the tool will be at the lower termination of the sleeve ||2, or a shoe of the type shown in the above mentioned Cavins Patent No. 2,088,151 may be utilized. When this tool is lowered into the well to the desired position, and then moved upwardly, the main valve is moved from its seat as previously described and a charge is taken into the tool through the bottom and side inlets and past the flapper valve I6. Removal of fluid from the well at any point will result in a pressure disturbance at that point, and when the rush of fluid into the tool suddenly ceases by reason of the filling of the suction chamber, there will be a reaction as previously described, which will tend to clean the perforations in the well pipe at the area where the fluid was removed, by an outward rush of fluid through said perforations. In operating the tool with the combination of the A, B and C units, the cleaning of the perforations will be more pronounced when the tool is resting on well bottom. When cleaning is done in this position, and fluid is suddenly removed from the well, and when the bailer suddenly becomes filled, the downward rush of fluid in the well toward the shoe of the cleaner is suddenly arrested, and by reason of the proximity of the well bottom, the path of least resistance for this fluid will then be outwardly through the perforations in the well pipe, to clean the same by an outward flow. As stated before, there Will be a continuing resurging of the fluid back and forth through the perforations until equilibrium is established, but the dominant effect will be the cleaning by outward flow of. fluid through the perforations.

If desired, the flapper valve ||6 may be re-l moved, and this cleansing of the perforations by 5 an outward flow of fluid therethrough may bei effected, without retaining they charge of fluidlo in the cleaner. That is, the tool may be utilized,i merely to create the pressure disturbance with@` resulting cleansing of the perforations, and anyi material which would have formed a part of the charge of the cleaner, to be removed from the well in the preferred manner of operation of the same, may be permitted to drop to the bottom of i the well to be removed by subsequent bailing operations. In this manner of operation, only perforation cleaning will ble performed, and no charge need be taken by the tool for removal from the well.

Furthermore, if it is desired to use the tool with the combination of A, B and C units,` as shown in Figure 1, without the use of packers, to clean perforations in the well above the bottom of the saine, a removable material, such as grave-l and the like may be put into the well to form a false bottom above well bottom, and then the tool may be lowered onto the top of this quantity of gravel, and the valve opened, and the disturbance incident to the opening of the suction chamber valve will cause a cleaning of the perforations by an outward flow of fluid therethrough, the gravel tending to localize and intensify the outward flow of fluid to the area of the perforations above the quantity of gravel which has been placed in the Well.

After such operations as described above, the gravel may be removed by ordinary bailing operations.

While the tool may be operated as described above without the use or operation of the charge retaining flapper valve H6, it is preferable `to use the tool with this valve functioning, in order to take the charge from the well subsequent to the cleaning operation.

It will be apparent that the cleaner of the present application may be moved upwardly and downwardly in the well as desired, to take a charge at any selected position. Furthermore, successive charges may be taken along the length of the perforated pipe in order to thoroughly clean all of the perforations therein.

Various modifications of the cleaner disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a cleaning device for wells, a casing, said casing having a port through which a charge is drawn into the same, a closed substantially air tight chamber in said casing, said chamber having an inlet thereto, a valve for closing said inlet when the device is being lowered into the well, automatically operable means on said device for moving said valve from its seat when the device is lowered to the desired -depth in the well, and then moved relatively to the wall thereof, to effect a rush of fluid into said casing through said port and through said inlet past said valve into said chamber, said means including a member positioned above said air-tight chamber for engaging the wall of the well and remaining in fixed relation thereto during said relative movement, and means for locking said valve in open position.

2. In a cleaning device for wells, a casing, said casing having a port through which a charge is drawn into the same, a closed substantially airtight chamber in said casing, said chamber having an inlet thereto, a valve for closing said inlet when the device is being lowered into the well, a spring for urging said valve to its seat, automatically operable means on said device for moving said valve from its seat when the device is 'lowered to the desired depth in the well, and

then moved relatively to the Wall thereof, to effect a rush of fluid into said casing through said port and through said inlet past said valve into said chamber, said means including a member positioned above said air-tight chamber for engaging the Wall of the well and remaining in fixed relation thereto during said relative movement, and means for lockingy said valve in open position, said locking means being releasable from the exterior of the cleaner after the same is withdrawn from the well, to provide for return of said valve to its seat under the influence of said spring.

3. In a cleaning device for wells, a casing, said casing having a port through which a charge is drawn into the same, a closed substantially airtight chamber in said casing, said chamber having an inlet thereto, a closure for sealing said inlet when the device is being lowered into they well, said port being positioned below said closure, and automatically operable means on said device for opening said inlet when the device is lowered to the desired depth in the well, and then moved relatively to the wall thereof, to effect a rush of fluid into said casing through said port and through said inlet into said chamber, said means including a member positioned above said airtight chamber for engaging the Wall of the well and remaining in xed relation thereto during said relative movement.

4. In a cleaning device for wells, a casing, said casing having a port through which a charge is drawn into the same, a closed substantially airtight chamber in said casing, said chamber having an inlet thereto at its lower end, said port being positioned below said inlet, a closure for sealing said inlet when the device is being lowered into the well, and automatically operable means on said device for opening said inlet when the device is lowered to the desired depth in the well, and then moved relatively to the wall thereof, to effect a rush of fluid into said casing through said port and through said inlet into said chamber, said means including a member positioned above said air-tight chamber engaging the wall of the well and remaining in fixed relation thereto during said relative movement, and an operating member for opening said inlet extending through the upper end of said air-tightchamber and forming a seal therewith.l i. 4

5. In a device for cleaning the perforations of well pipe, a casing, said casing having a port through which a charge is drawn into the same, a closed substantially air-tight chamber in said casing, said chamber having an inlet thereto, a valve for closing said inlet when the device is being lowered into the well, automatically operable means on said device for moving said valve from its seat when the device islowered to the desired depth in the well, and then moved relatively to the wall thereof, to effect a rush of fluid into said casing through said port and through said inlet past said valve into said chamber t0 clean the perforations of the well pipe, said means including a member carried by said device above said chamber engaging the wall of the well and remaining in xed relation thereto during said relative movement, and a packer mounted on the outside of said casing below said chamber to confine the cleaning to a particular area of perforations of the well pipe.

6. In a device for cleaning the perforations of Well pipe, a casing, said casing having a port through which a charge is drawn into the same, a closed substantially air-tight chamber in said casing, said chamber having an inlet thereto, a valve for closing said inlet when the device is being lowered into the well, automatically operable means on said device for moving said valve from its seat when the device is lowered to the desired depth in the well, and then moved relatively to the Wall thereof, to effect a rush of fluid into said casing through said port and through said inlet past said valve into said chamber to clean the perforations in the well pipe, said means including a member carried by said casing above said chamber engaging the wall of the well and remaining in fixed relation thereto during said relative movement, and a pair of spaced packers mounted on the outside of said casing below said chamber on opposite sides of said port to confine the perforation cleaning operation to a particular area of the well pipe. 7. In a cleaning device for wells, a casing, said casing having a port through which a charge is drawn into the same, a closed substantially airtight chamber in said casing, said chamber having an inlet thereto, a valve for closing said inlet when the device is being lowered into the well, a spring for urging said valve to its seat, means for adjusting said spring to vary the pressure of said valve on its seat, and automatically operable means on said device for moving said valve from` its seat when the device is lowered to the desired depth in the well and then moved relatively to the wall thereof, to effect a rush of fluid into said casing through said port and through said inlet past said valve into said chamber, said means including a member positioned above said airtight chamber for engaging the wall of the well and remaining in fixed relation thereto during said relative movement.

8. In a cleaning tool for wells, a casing, a closed chamber in said casing, said chamber having an inlet thereto, a closure for said inlet, means for opening said inlet comprising an operating rod, an expansible element adapted to engage the wall of the well mounted for relative movement on said rod, means on said rod cooperating with said element to expand the same against the wall of the well and to thereby maintain said rod in xed relation to said Wall during a movement of said casing with respect thereto, said means on said rod being adapted to release said element from the Wall of the Well upon further movement of said casing with respect thereto, whereby said tool may be removed from the well with said element in released position.

9. In a cleaning tool for wells, a casing, a closed chamber in said casing, said chamber having.- an inlet thereto, a closure for said inlet, means for opening said inlet comprising an operating rod, a member mounted for relative movement on said rod, an expansible bowed spring secured at one end to said member and having its other end free, said spring being adapted to engage the wall of the well intermediate its ends when expanded, a fixed knob on said rod adapted to engage the free end of said spring to expand the same against the wall of the well and to thereby maintain said rod in iixed relation to the wall of the well during a movement of said casing with respect thereto, said knob releasing said spring and thereby permitting it to contract from the Wall of the well upon further movement of said casing, whereby said tool may be removed from the Well with said spring in released position.

10. In a cleaning tool for wells, a casing, a closed A chamber in said casing, said chamber having an inlet thereto, a closure for said inlet, means for opening said inlet comprising an operating rod, a collar mounted for relative movement on said rod, a plurality of bowed springs, each of which is secured to one end of said collar and has its other end free, said other ends of said springs being bent outwardly, said springs being adapted to engage the wall of the Well intermediate their ends when expanded, a xed knob on said rod adapted to engage the outwardly bent ends of said springs to expand the same against the wall of the well and to thereby maintain said rod in fixed relation to said wall during a movement of said casing with respect thereto, the curved ends of said springs being adapted to ride over said knob permitting said springs to contract to release said springs from the wall of the well upon further relative movement of said casing in the same direction with respect to the Wall of the well, whereby said tool may be removed from the well with said springs in released position.

11. In a tool for cleaning the perforations in well pipe by suction, a casing, a closed substantially airtight chamber in said casing, said charnber having an inlet thereto, a closure for sealing said inlet when the tool is being lowered into the well, means for opening said inlet when the tool is at the desired position in the well to draw a charge into said casing and thereby clean the perforations in the Well pipe, comprising an operating rod, a wall drag element mounted for relative movement on said rod, a member xed to said rod which actuates said wall drag element to force the same into tight engagement against the Wall of the well and to thereby maintain said rod in xed relation to the Wall of the well during a relative movement of said casing with respect thereto, said memberv being adapted to release said Wall drag element from tight engagement with the wall of the Well after said inlet is opened upon further relative movement of said casing, whereby said tool may be removed from the Well with said wall drag element in released position.

12. In a device for cleaning perforations in a well pipe having a column of well iiuid above the perforations, a casing including a closed substantially air-tight chamber having an inlet provided with a valve seat, a valve member for closing said inlet, means for maintaining said valve member on said seat to close said inlet when the cleaner is being lowered into the well pipe, a sealing member on said casing forming a seal with the interior of the well pipe below the perforations to be cleaned, said casing having an opening therein above sa sealing member, said opening communicating th said inlet, and means for positively moving said valve member from its seat to open said inlet including a member engaging the interior of the well pipe and remaining in fixed relation thereto when said cleaner is moved upwardly in the Well after having reached the desired depth therein, to cause a rapid flow of well fluid into said casing through said opening, said cleaner providing for substantially unobstructed downward flow of the column of well iluid around the same above said sealing member when said valve is moved from its seat, whereby the porforations in the well pipe above said sealing member and adjacent thereto are washed by an outward surge of uid under pressure therethrough reacting from the termination of the rapid flow of fluid into said casing.

PAUL CAVINS. 

